Getting an older into the boot of the car

[Kickingoff]

Any tips? Steps? Ramp?
he’s 11 and still active but doesn’t like jumping into the boot. I’m letting him onto the back seat at the moment but he’s wrecking it with muddy feet.
i mainly part on uneven ground it that makes a difference

My old Lab lived to 13 and he couldn’t jump into the boot of my dog walkers SUV as he got older. She had a ramp which he would happily walk up and down to get him into the boot.

What kind of dog and is he too heavy to lift ? I used to hoick my elderly greyhound in. I used a hammock from Amazon over the back seats which was safer for both hound and seats (I fastened her harness into a seatbelt clip).

We had a foldable ramp for our old springer. She didn't like it much but tolerated being led up it on her lead, because she knew it meant walkies in interesting places, which she loved. I think I got the ramp in either Aldi or Lidl.

i have used both a ramp and steps. My younger dog happily runs up and down both.
My older boy never mastered going up the steps ( which was a shame as they were very easy to transport)

Try a ramp. And get your dog familiar with it on a low gradient ( I started on the back doorstep) . Make sure dog is confident walking up and down the ramp before elevating it.

Would he let you put his front feet on the boot, then wait for you to tip his back end up? This is usually fairly easy with an amenable larger dog.

I have steps for my arthritic Lab. But he still needs a bit of a hand to get all the way in. In hindsight I think a ramp might have been better.

If

Steps take up less space in the car
Ramp is less stress on the joints of the dog.

Walk the dog over the ramp on the floor for several days Dont lure just put food on the flat ramp. Very gradually increase the incline use treats to encourage your dog to walk along it. Dont rush the process make sure your dog is very comfortable before increasing the incline

Regarding the muddy feet on the back seat. I use a plastic cover then a hammock over that for the back to keep the actual seat clean.

Solvit ramps are the best I’ve found. They are very sturdy for the dog but foldable and easy to manage for the human. I went through many different makes before finding this one. Also a help em up harness can work in conjunction. I had an elderly basset hound, but she used the ramp from about 3 onwards. Laterly , when even the ramp was a struggle we used the harness as well.

My 8 year dog has has back problems and jumping in back seems to aggravate it. I got a little collapsible step from Amazon that I can do with one hand and this helps. She hated it at first and would pretend she didn’t know what it was for, looking round everywhere but the step. Kids said she was embarrassed 😆

My older lurcher with back problems and arthritis couldn’t use a ramp - so we have this home made platform in both cars ( and various other places ) legs are about 6” but also available in 9” . Works for us ( him) .

Store upright held in place by a bungee

There's a charity called Sonny Days (on FB "Sonny Days Charity") who help with older animals and can provide aids such as ramps on loan. Maybe worth contacting them?

With my big old boy I had a godawful ancient car and I would fold down the back seats with the dog guard up behind the driver's seat. He could climb in the back that way, using the lip of the car and the edge of the seat as 'steps'. It did mean the car was unusable for anything much other than dog transport though.

I got a ramp eventually, although I had to be careful that he didn't slide his back end off the edge, but it worked for his last couple of years.

Dear old chap he was.

I see a woman using aluminium steps from Inner Wolf. They fold to the size of a briefcase.

This is what DDog and I do – it's a good job he's not intact, given the amount of time I spend with my hand between his back legs!

Boosting him up into the car, supporting him as he walks up stairs... 😂

I bought a ramp for my old staffie as she’s lost some power in her back legs. She’s not keen tbh but I hold her harness and lead her up the ramp. She’s nearly 15.

Local RSPCA shop had a couple of home made, folding, wooden ramps for £5. Just after we’d spent about £100 for an aluminium one. I bought one so there is one for my and dh’s car.

My rather large ddog is only 4 but he is a stubborn git and refuses to jump into the car boot. He can do it but he won’t. He does jump out but not in. We do the lift front legs then lift back legs thing which seems to work fine. He just waits for me to do it now. I swear that he enjoys making me look as silly as possible.